Planting

View some of our planting projects. There is a show garden designed and built by Guy Pollard on permanent display at Great Park Farm Nursery, Catsfield (near Battle, East Sussex)

Horam, East Sussex

This garden situated near Horam, East Sussex, comprised mainly lawns with no planting or structure except an established Liquidambar and a large American oak. Once the overall shapes were approved, the beds were marked and cut and cultivated to a depth of more than two feet. We incorporated more than fifty cubic metres of compost (with many more in subsequent years) and watched the plants flourish over the following seasons!

Plants in the foreground: Pennisetum alopecuroides, Hemerocallis ‘Gentle Shepherd’. In the distance an avenue of Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ links the house to the lower gardens.

Crawley, West Sussex,

Occupying a large site in West Sussex, this walled garden was left unplanted. The beds were prepared thoroughly before planting and mulched heavily afterwards, too!

Featuring a central circular bed with a bronze resin sculpture. We used repeat planting with selected plants throughout this scheme for continuity. The central bed formed part of a concentric circular layout with irregular breaks cut through the deep beds for interest and access.

A scented walk through an oak pergola. The planting pockets were incorporated during construction of the pergola and paving to accommodate chamomile and thyme. By off-setting the pockets the client hoped visitors would be encouraged to walk on the plants to release their scent.

We planted many varieties of climbing rose and clematis with a central feature of Wisteria floribunda ‘Violacea Plena’. Underplanting includes Allium christophii, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, penstemon, stachys and lamium.

Hollingbourne, Kent

Mid-spring planting at this garden near Leeds Castle, Kent. The bergenia (Bergenia ‘Eroica’) was chosen despite its strong pink colour.

The leaves are mahogany red all winter and is underplanted with single white snowdrops for an early show. Later, when the flowers fade, Libertia peregrinans takes over. Other plants in the beds include Fritillaria imperialis, Malus ‘Golden Hornet’ (white blossom, amber fruit) and euphorbia

The white walls of the house show off Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ on the left with euphorbia, nepeta, hydrangea, philadelphus and sambucus making up the scheme.

Cross-in-Hand, East Sussex

A summer border with cleome, dahlias, canna, amaranthus and cosmos. Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ is the only permanent plant in the bed and was retained to attract butterflies.

In the distance miscanthus and tree ferns are planted by the summerhouse

Catsfield, nr Battle

Mixed materials underfoot provide a walk through mixed planting. Shrubs to the left are Heptacodium miconioides with Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’ in flower. To the right is a young Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’

Sevenoaks, Kent

Buttercups with Camassia leichtlinii.

Horsted Keynes, West Sussex

This seating area was laid in natural stone and has views across the valley. The planting from left to right includes Elaeagnus angustifolia ‘Quicksilver’, Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, Penstemon ‘Hidcote Pink’.

Near Hailsham, East Sussex

These deep beds provided plenty of scope for perennials and grasses.

Baptisia australis, Stachys officinalis ‘Hummelo’, Stipa gigantea, white agapanthus and an Eryngium agavifolium planted as a bit of fun. Not expecting it to survive, of course it has flourished!

Near Icklesham

Low mixed planting on the banks at this garden near Icklesham. Papaver orientale ‘Queen Alexandra’ is repeated throughout with tradescantia, Libertia peregrinans, prostrate rosemary and penstemon.